Thomas Frank (the author of books like What the Matter With Kansas and his latest The Creativity Con: How Innovation Became America's Biggest Racket) explains that his new book traces how “creativity” and “innovation” became powerful buzzwords used to justify class hierarchy, elite power, and the Democratic Party’s shift away from working-class politics. He argues that Barack Obama embodied this ideology by celebrating innovation, Google, and STEM education in a way that sounded progressive while also aligning with corporate and Silicon Valley interests and making politicians seem powerless. Frank connects this to the broader decline of the middle class, the rise of a “creative class” narrative that privileges white-collar work over blue-collar labor, and the long political realignment in places like Kansas, where suburban voters have drifted toward Democrats even as many Republicans have remained dominant elsewhere. Subscribe to Fast Politics and listen 4x a week for interviews just like this on your favorite podcast app: https://episodes.fm/1645614328

<p>Thomas Frank (the author of books like What the Matter With Kansas and his latest The Creativity Con: How Innovation Became America's Biggest Racket) explains that his new book traces how &ldquo;creativity&rdquo; and &ldquo;innovation&rdquo; became powerful buzzwords used to justify class hierarchy, elite power, and the Democratic Party&rsquo;s shift away from working-class politics. He argues that Barack Obama embodied this ideology by celebrating innovation, Google, and STEM education in a way that sounded progressive while also aligning with corporate and Silicon Valley interests and making politicians seem powerless. Frank connects this to the broader decline of the middle class, the rise of a &ldquo;creative class&rdquo; narrative that privileges white-collar work over blue-collar labor, and the long political realignment in places like Kansas, where suburban voters have drifted toward Democrats even as many Republicans have remained dominant elsewhere. Subscribe to Fast Politics and listen 4x a week for interviews just like this on your favorite podcast app: https://episodes.fm/1645614328</p>

Join noted author & pundit Molly Jong-Fast for irreverent humor that cuts right to the heart of our politics today as she discusses the top political headlines with some of today’s best minds. Known for being one of the few interviewers in politics to cut through the talking points, Molly reveals the personalities and issues tearing the country apart. She asks the questions no one else does, and gets the answers even her guests didn’t expect to give – and exactly what you want to know. Tune in every Monday, Wednesday & Friday for the funniest yet serious look at what’s ailing America.

<p>Join noted author &amp; pundit Molly Jong-Fast for irreverent humor that cuts right to the heart of our politics today as she discusses the top political headlines with some of today’s best minds. Known for being one of the few interviewers in politics to cut through the talking points, Molly reveals the personalities and issues tearing the country apart. She asks the questions no one else does, and gets the answers even her guests didn’t expect to give – and exactly what you want to know. Tune in every Monday, Wednesday &amp; Friday for the funniest yet serious look at what’s ailing America.</p>

Fast Politics with Molly Jong-Fast

How Silicon Valley Hijacked Politics w/ Thomas Frank

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/c11d64e1-e43a-495a-a276-b4e7016de554/transcript